In the late 60’s they hooked up with manager Chas Chandler who proved to be the missing link, convincing the group to use the heavier rock style with clapping hands and stamping feet which they had success with live. This change of direction paid off, and from 1971 to 1975, the band scored a huge number of hit albums and singles. During the heights of their success, Slade out-performed chart rivals like Wizzard, Sweet, T.Rex, Suzi Quattro, Smokie, Gary Glitter and even David Bowie. In the UK, they achieved 12 top five hits from 1971 to 1974, six of which topped the charts. In total, Slade had 17 top 20 hits between 1971 and 1976 including six #1s, three #2s and two #3s.And the evergreen Merry Xmas Everybody has reached the charts eight times since topping the charts in 1973 until 2006. When Slade’s success faded in the end of 1970s the band still were able to release credible records.They returned to the UK charts in the early 1980 and even managed to enter the charts in the United States, where the song “Run Runaway” hit #20 thanks to interest from the band Quiet Riot’s cover of the Slade song “Cum On Feel The Noize”. The classic line-up of Slade split up in 1992 although Dave Hill and Don Powell carried on. |
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